Metallic device, interposed between tripods and cameras for series of panoramic photographs

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a light metallic device interposed between tripods and cameras, placing the camera lens focus just above the axis of rotation of the stand, thereby enabling capture of successive images, for a perfect panoramic view.

Panoramic views have always drawn the attention of amateurs and professionals. Knowing that the field of clarity of our vision does not extend beyond the surface of a thumb nail with the arm extended, we keep browsing reality with our eyes, but we focus only on what interests us. Like reality, the final image in a panoramic assembly must have presence and a lot of clarity, the presence is provided by a normal focal distance, in the image of our vision, 35 mm for a surface of 24×36 mm.

The “panoramic” position on photographic cameras is a delusion, as it is only the reframing of a normal image.

The choice of taking a series of views, then to assemble them into a panoramic view, is a good choice, provided that a few simple but important rules are respected.

As a preliminary, it is advised to work with a stand, to keep a good horizontality, to choose a medium focal distance which is related to that of the eye and a good presence, to set the photographic camera in a vertical position as often as possible, and finally, in order to approach perfection, to take the successive views from a same rotation point located under the lens focus, between the diaphragm and the body of the camera.

Some professional tripods make it possible to do all that, but they are heavy and, above all, very expensive, others, for amateurs, probably also fulfill these conditions, but the device that I propose makes it possible to give all tripods without exception the possibility to arrive at a result verging on perfection with the lowest cost, the price of such a simple and elegant device being about 40 Euros.

The device is made up of three plates in light metal alloy, which slide relative to each other. The first plate (1) is fixed on the tripod. The second slides laterally and positions the optical axis of the lens on the rotation axis of the stand. These two operations being blocked by tightening screws, the third plate, being moved from back to front or toward the front, positions the focus of the lens above the rotation point of the stand. Once the three plates are blocked, the photographic camera pivots around the focus of its lens during the successive shots. 

1. Metallic device for use as intermediate between any stand and photographic camera, making it possible to position a crucial point of the lens, such as the nodal point or the focus just above the rotation point of the head of the stand, so that the assembly including the photographic camera pivots around the focus of the lens.
 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the device is comprises three plates adapted to slide relative to each other, such that: the first plate, a base part, is adapted to be fixed to the head of the stand, the second plate is adapted to slide the optical axis of the lens laterally on the rotation axis of the stand, these two plates being blocked, the third plate, adapted to carry the photographic camera, is adapted to position the focus of the lens just above the rotation point of the head of the stand.
 3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the device is in light alloy.
 4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the stand is a tripod.
 5. Device according to claim 2, wherein the plates are in light alloy.
 6. Device according to claim 2, wherein markings are located on the plates to help slide and position the plates. 